National Facility for High Resolution CL Analysis of Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Devices
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Wolfson Sch of Mech, Elec & Manufac Eng
Abstract
To establish a National Facility for High Resolution Cathodoluminescence (CL) analysis of photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices. The facility will enable university and industrial researchers to correlate luminescence with defects, microstructure and composition down to the nanoscale. The facility will comprise:
1. CL on a dual beam Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with a Xenon plasma Focused Ion Beam (FIB). The Xe FIB will be used to extract lamellae from features detected in the SEM-CL for high resolution Transmission Electron Microscope analysis.
2. CL on a dedicated Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) for nanoscale analysis.
The facility will be unique world-wide and help maintain the UK's position as a research leader in photovoltaic and optoelectronic device development.
1. CL on a dual beam Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with a Xenon plasma Focused Ion Beam (FIB). The Xe FIB will be used to extract lamellae from features detected in the SEM-CL for high resolution Transmission Electron Microscope analysis.
2. CL on a dedicated Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) for nanoscale analysis.
The facility will be unique world-wide and help maintain the UK's position as a research leader in photovoltaic and optoelectronic device development.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Pilkington Glass (Collaboration)
- Colorado State University (Collaboration)
- First Solar, Inc (Collaboration)
- U.S. Department of Energy (Collaboration)
- Swansea University (Project Partner)
- University of Sheffield (Project Partner)
- CTF Solar GmbH (Project Partner)
- University of Liverpool (Project Partner)
- University of Surrey (Project Partner)
- Oxford Photovoltaics Limited (Project Partner)
- NREL (Nat Renewable Energy Laboratory) (Project Partner)
- Imperial College London (Project Partner)
- Swift Solar (Project Partner)
- First Solar Inc (Project Partner)
- University of Cambridge (Project Partner)
- University of Bristol (Project Partner)
- Durham University (Project Partner)
- University of Oxford (Project Partner)
- Nanoco (Project Partner)
- University of Southampton (Project Partner)
- University of Edinburgh (Project Partner)
- IQE PLC (Project Partner)
- NSG Group (UK) (Project Partner)
| Description | The High resolution cathodoluminescence facility was installed and commissioned in December 2024. The isnstruments have been used to analyse the photoactivity of solar cells and LEDs with nanometre precision. We have already discovered that defects such as twin boundaries in CdSeTe/CdTe devices obstruct the diffusion of selenium and cause recombination to occur. The facility is world-leading and we have high expectations for important discoveries over the next 12 months. |
| Exploitation Route | The use of the CL facility will allow detailed analysis of photoemission from photovoltaic and other optoelectronic devices. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Electronics Energy |
| URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/lmcc/facilities/ |
| Description | The analysis of devices is important to industrial users. We are starting to analyse solar cells, LED's and Quantum dots from companies such as First Solar, CTF Solar, Nanoco Technologies, NSG Pilkington etc.... |
| First Year Of Impact | 2025 |
| Sector | Electronics,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Title | National Cathodoluminesence facility for photovoltaivs and optoelectronics. |
| Description | Cathodoluminescence on an Scanning and a Transmission electron microscope. Technique is able to probe the efficiency of solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Facility has just been partially installed. Already showing the impact of crystal defects on the efficiency of PV devices. |
| URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/lmcc/facilities/national-facility-highresolution-cathodolumin/ |
| Description | First Solar Inc |
| Organisation | First Solar, Inc |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Joint research and publications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint reserach and publications. |
| Impact | Record efficiency for a ZnO/CdSeTe/CdTe device |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Glass coatings |
| Organisation | Pilkington Glass |
| Department | Pilkington Technology Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Development of anti-reflection and anti-soiling coatings. Thin film CdSeTE/CdTe devices |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of coated glass. |
| Impact | Record efficiency for CdSeTe PV devices. Development of durable AR and AS coatings |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NSF Industry/University Co-operative Research Center for Next Generation Photovoltaics |
| Organisation | Colorado State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The consortium is engaged in increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of thin film CdTe photovoltaics. We are producing thin films, complete devices and characterisation using HRTEM. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The other partners are Colorado State University, University of Texas at Austin, First Solar Inc, 5N Plus, Direct Solar LLC, Ion Edge Corporation, NREL and MBI corporation. ECh partner is engaged in developing materials or devices. |
| Impact | 8 Publications |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Department | National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): NREL is a world leading Research Institution for Renewable Energy. NREL has hosted Nayia Arnou, Sona Ulcina and Luis Infante-Ortego (research students) from CREST for 3 month secondments. The visit by Sona Ulcina led to the development a 17.2% efficient perovskite solar cell using an atmospheric spray process. Several joint publications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Tim Silverman, a senior scientist at NREL is currently on secondment to CREST for 1 year working on degradation mechanisms in silicon modules. |
| Impact | Publications |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Chair of Advisory Board for an EPSRC programme grant at the University of Oxford |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chair of the Asdvisory Group for an EPSRC programme grant on perovskite PV at the University of Oxford. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Member of advisory board for programme grant at Imperial College/Swansea University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Memeberr of Avisory board for an EPSRC programme grant |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Thin film CdTe photovoltaics workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop hled at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado by invitation only. Thin film CdTe PV is the most important second generation solar technology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |